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Coastal Cupcakes to close retail shops

Coastal Cupcakes owner Kristen Beckmeyer makes a batch of cupcakes at the downtown store in Wilmington Friday, February 11, 2011. Beckmeyer and her business partner Meredith Sullivan opened their second location on Wrightsville Ave. in May 2009 with assistance from The UNCW Entrepreneurship Center. StarNews file photo

Published: Wednesday, December 18, 2013 at 6:03 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, December 18, 2013 at 6:03 p.m.

Wilmington | Coastal Cupcakes owner Kristen Beckmeyer announced Wednesday that her popular bakery would be suspending retail sales on Jan. 1 to focus energies on an emerging business opportunity.

Beckmeyer recently launched Topsee Tulip Frosting, a four-ingredient, all-natural cake topping, and she said sales have been surprisingly brisk. Her first retail partner was a local Lowes Foods, and it went on the shelves there on Nov. 17. In the following weeks, she's added another 16 Lowes spots and four Whole Foods.

"My plan was never to shut down retail," Beckmeyer said. "I thought Topsee had some potential, but I didn't think it would grow this fast."

Wholesale and wedding cupcake orders will not be effected by the shift, and outstanding gift certificates will still be honored. The downtown location, at 129 Princess St., will remain intact with sporadic openings announced on the Coastal Cupcakes Facebook page, while the 7210 Wrightsville Ave. shop will close.

<p>Wilmington | Coastal Cupcakes owner Kristen Beckmeyer announced Wednesday that her popular bakery would be suspending retail sales on Jan. 1 to focus energies on an emerging business opportunity.</p><p>Beckmeyer recently launched Topsee Tulip Frosting, a four-ingredient, all-natural cake topping, and she said sales have been surprisingly brisk. Her first retail partner was a local Lowes Foods, and it went on the shelves there on Nov. 17. In the following weeks, she's added another 16 Lowes spots and four Whole Foods.</p><p>"My plan was never to shut down retail," Beckmeyer said. "I thought Topsee had some potential, but I didn't think it would grow this fast."</p><p>Wholesale and wedding cupcake orders will not be effected by the shift, and outstanding gift certificates will still be honored. The downtown location, at 129 Princess St., will remain intact with sporadic openings announced on the Coastal Cupcakes <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/facebook"><b>Facebook</b></a> page, while the 7210 Wrightsville Ave. shop will close.</p><p><i></p><p>– <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic9919"><b>Paul Stephen</b></a></i></p>